The Australian Racing Drivers Club

For members and guests

ARDC News

RACE SYDNEY 2023 for Members

RACE SYDNEY // MEMBER ACCESS // MEMBER SUITE

Race Sydney is nearly here! Taking place over two action packed days on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th of November, Race Sydney is one the highlights of the SMSP calendar.
The Kumho TCR World Tour will join the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia series, bringing the best of TCR in the world to Western Sydney.
Plus, National Trans Am Series Workhorse Radical Cup Australia Hyundai Excels And more exciting news to come!    

MEMBER DETAILS
ARDC Members and their Guests will get in for FREE by showing their Member cards at the gate!
On the day, you’ll have access to a Camping or Park’n’View upgrade:
Park’n’View: $20
Camping: $50
Just show your Member Card at the box office, then let them know which upgrade you’d like.

MEMBER SUITE DETAILS
The ARDC Members Suite will be open on Friday and Saturday in Suite 4 for all ARDC Members and their guests.
 Friday 3rd: 3:30pm-9pm
Saturday 4th: 2pm-9pm
Swing by for a free cuppa, some nibbles, the racing on the big screen and a great view of all the action right in the heart of the paddock!
Click here for a full size image of the pit building.

RACE PROGRAM: Now live

RACE SYDNEY PROGRAM

We’ll see you trackside soon,
The ARDC Membership Team

Supercars 2023 for Members

Your Beaurepaires Sydney Supernight tickets are ready to claim!*

ARDC Members have the ability to claim the following for the event:
• Enthusiast, Pit Crew Members: 1 GA Pass
• Foundation (>#3200), Official, Competitor, Honorary, Life & Enthusiast Plus Members: 2 GA Passes

*The cut-off for joining/renewing your ARDC Membership was 13/07. If you joined/renewed an expired Membership after that date, you will not have access to the above offer.

HOW TO CLAIM YOUR TICKETS AS AN ARDC MEMBER:
All Members were sent an email containing a link to claim their tickets on MONDAY JULY 17.

If you need us to resend the link, or require assistance to claim your tickets, please give us a call on 9672 1000 or email reception@2025.ardc.com.au.

Masterblast ’23 for Members

MasterBlast ’23 on September 9/10 promises a jam packed weekend of metal and muscle, displays and drifting; a great two-days for any car enthusiast! 

At night on Saturday, Tuned International is bringing back its best cars for a huge Monster Meet on the SMSP main straight, while the brand new Sydney Hillclimb takes on the Amaroo South Circuit hills, under lights. 

As an ARDC Member, your Member Cards and Guest Pass cards are all valid at this event. You will need to claim your tickets ahead of time to access the venue, as we have a few extra deals for you! (see below for instructions).

CAMPING: Stay the night at our nearby hotels, or camp out at SMSP’s final turn for the best view in the house. ARDC Members get camping FREE!

Park-N-View: Our popular drive up and park option also returns this year. This ticket allows you to pull up anywhere along the north-east of the precinct, and gas BBQs and cookers are allowed. ARDC Members get Park’N’View FREE!

The categories for this MasterBlast ’23 include: 
– Heritage Touring Cars (Group C & A) 
– National Sports Sedans 
– Classic Sports Cars (Group S) 
– Historic Touring Cars (Nb/Nc) 
– Australian Prototype Series 
– Toyota 86 Series 
– Superkarts 

HOW TO CLAIM YOUR TICKETS AS AN ARDC MEMBER:
All Members were sent an email containing a link to claim their tickets on THURSDAY JULY 6.

If you need us to resend the link, or require assistance to claim your tickets, please give us a call on 9672 1000 or email reception@2025.ardc.com.au.

ARDC Fanbelt, June 2023

What an absolute honour it is to be writing to you all this month in my new capacity as President and Chair of the Board of The Australian Racing Drivers Club, having been elected to the role at the club’s Annual General Meeting in May. And what big racing shoes to fill after Andrew Leithhead’s outstanding 14-year leadership at the helm. I’m pleased to advise that although Andrew has chosen to step down as President, he has agreed to remain on the board and has taken on the role as Deputy Vice President. Andrew’s tenure as President has overseen so many significant developments at our home at Sydney Motorsport Park, including the Brabham expansion of the track, installation of circuit wide LED lighting, the creation of the Australian Motorsport Innovation Precinct, and presiding over a continuance of multiple events and programs. Our ARDC membership base has quadrupled over this time too. I am sure you’ll all agree he’s done an incredible job, and we thank him for all his hard work, dedication, and leadership.

Congratulations to Jamie McDonald who was elected at the AGM as our new Vice President! I’m very much looking forward to working alongside Jamie as Vice President, Andrew as Deputy Vice President, my fellow ARDC Directors, Glenn Matthews our CEO and his amazing team, our officials, volunteers, partners and Members. I hope that as a motorsport enthusiast and competitor on both two- and four-wheels, combined with my six years on the ARDC Board, and my long long-standing business and board career, that I can continue to shape the Club’s future. Fuelled of course by the ideas, enthusiasm, passion and assistance of our Members!

Together I believe we can continue the Club’s 70 years history of best-in-class Australian Motorsport stewardship, circuit management and presentation, hosting exhilarating events and experiences, and passionate ARDC Member representation. Each month I hope to be able to continue to bring you exciting news and updates of this important and exciting journey. 

As for the AGM itself, it was terrific to receive the yearly report from Glenn Matthews (ARDC CEO). Glenn provided a terrific outline of the ARDC’s current financial position (particularly coming out of COVID); the continued growth and stability of the ARDC Membership; the exciting racing calendar ahead at SMSP; the important work we are doing around sustainability, and the continued progress of the Stage One building of the Australian Motorsport Innovation Precinct (AMIP). As its opening is now only weeks away, I’m excited to be able to share more news in next month’s newsletter about our AMIP’s grand opening, our foundation tenants, and future plans. 

We hope you will join us at the track through June for the HSRCA Sydney Classic 2023, the Shannons Trophy Series, or perhaps the St. George Motorcycle Club’s 2023 Endurance Series. I look forward to seeing and meeting many of you at some of our other key events coming up this year including Word Time Attack, the TCR Championship, Masterblast ’23 and the Beaurepaires Sydney Supernight 28-30 July!

The ARDC marketing team will be updating everyone about Member access and arrangements to the Supercars event in the coming weeks. In the meantime, don’t forget to put the ARDC’s MasterBlast ’23 event featuring the Muscle Car Masters in your diaries for September!Happy Racing,
Natalie.
president@2025.ardc.com.au
Pictured from left: Andrew Leithhead, Jamie McDonald, Natalie Turmine and Glenn Matthews
at the recent 71st ARDC Annual General Meeting, May 2023.
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Farewell, and thanks.
This month’s President’s Message has a new author… and this month’s newsletter contains my last annual report as ARDC President!

At the Annual General Meeting on 24th May I advised that I would not be re-nominating for the position of ARDC President. I have been incredibly privileged to lead our Club for 14 years and together with our Board, CEO, staff team, volunteers and Members, we have achieved some big things since 2009.

However, it is time for me to step down and make way for new blood and new thinking. Renewal is very important in all organisations, and I am glad that the Board has elected Natalie Turmine as our new President and Jamie McDonald as Vice President. While I will remain on the Board and have accepted the role of Deputy Vice President, Nat and Jamie are now driving!

The ARDC of 2023 is the result of the cumulative effort of many people over more than 70 years. I am very conscious that whatever has been achieved during my tenure as President has been built on the foundations provided by my predecessors. I also want to recognise that it has only been possible for me to serve as President with the ongoing support, encouragement and honest feedback of the ARDC Members.

I’m excited to see how the Club progresses under new leadership and I’m looking forward to having some extra time to spend on the track!
As I said earlier, it has been a great privilege.
Thanks,
Andrew.
2023 ARDC AGM Report
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MEMBER ACCESS AT SUPERCARS
We know you’ve been waiting for this one!
In a few more days the ARDC should have our offering for Members finalised; we are confident of General Admission (GA) tickets for Members and Guests, as per the last few years and with thanks to Supercars… but are investigating options for Members to upgrade to Grandstand or Park’N’View (or both).
Stay tuned! 
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LAST CHANCE TO GRAB YOUR FREE TICKETS!
Australian Motor Heritage Foundation Presents: Bondy ‘Mr Versatile’ Fireside Chat
Our friends over at the AMHF are starting their fireside chats with a bang, hosting Mr Versatile himself on the 23rd of June at 10am at SMSP in the Hinxman Room!
Call us or check your Member News in your inbox to claim your free ticket!

 
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VIVID DRONE SHOW OPERATORS FEATURING AT MASTERBLAST ’23
Did you see the drone show at Vivid this year? It was SPECTACULAR! (watch it HERE).

Well, Skyworx Drone Shows will be back at this year’s Masterblast, taking to the SMSP sky with 500 drones on the Saturday night! You won’t want to miss it!

Along with our Car- and Bike-themed Drone Show at around 7pm, we also have Tuned International on the SMSP main straight, the brand new Sydney Hillclimb takes on the Amaroo South Circuit, and Drifting with Driving Sports on the Figure 8.

Why not grab a Park’N’View spot to watch it all from the comfort of your car, or camp overnight and see the show from your home-away-from-home? Both are FREE FOR ARDC MEMBERS!

TICKETS LAUNCHING SOON. Save the weekend of September 9-10, 2023 for all the metal and muscle, displays and drone shows; a great two-days for any car enthusiast!

SYDNEYMASTERBLAST.COM

Sponsorship opportunities in a variety of forms and activations are now available! For enquiries, please contact Peter Larum at peter@2025.ardc.com.au or 0419 732 029.
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The Great Race: ARDC Born and Bred – Exclusive Premier Suite
Have you booked your place yet? We have! And a good thing too, as these places are SOLD OUT on the Supercars site!
The ARDC has booked a Premier Pit Suite at the 2023 Repco Bathurst 1000 and is offering Members an exclusive opportunity to join us.
The ARDC’s suite is positioned at pit exit with a balcony and views of the main straight and turn one. The experience includes access to the event, an air-conditioned suite with TV’s so you won’t miss a second of the action, full catering for all three days, beverage package, a goodies bag on arrival, and much more to come! All for $2000pp inc GST.
We are so excited to share this limited Anniversary experience with our Members: Packages are available to book NOW by emailing the ARDC.See you trackside at The Great Race!




Nightshift for Cars will be back in May, with a combined Beginner/Intermediate group joining Race Cars. Grab a mate, give us a call for your discount code and come enjoy SMSP under lights! Don’t forget, you can use one or both of your 50% Discounts on Nightshift events!
When: Wednesday 28th June
Groups: Beginner/IntermediateRace Cars
NIGHTSHIFT FOR CARS TICKETS
Remember, ARDC Members are always entitled to a full refund. So book now and if we need to postpone, we can rebook or refund you!
To get your 50% Members discount, email reception@2025.ardc.com.au, or give us a call at 9672 1000. Follow the link above to our ticket page and book now!

KEY EVENTS IN JUNE

Fri 2nd – Sunday 4th
Fastrack and Supercar Drive
Members receive a 10% discount! Fastrack Website.

Sat 10th –  Sun 11th    
HSCRA Summer Classic
Free entry for ARDC Members and Guests. Show your card at the gate.

Wed 14th    
Open Pit Lane Track Day
Places available – Click Here.

Fri 16th – Sun 18th    
Shannons Nationals Trophy Series
Free entry for ARDC Members and Guests. Show your card at the gate.

Fri 30th    
ARDC Private Practice – Test & Tune
Enter here.
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 NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERSMOTOSCHOOL IS GO!

We are excited to announce a new bike track school provider, Motoschool!
Their first event at SMSP is this month, Friday Night Lights, is an evening event on the Amaroo South Circuit and starts at $249. 
Entry includes:

MOTOSCHOOL Team T-Shirt
Full rider safety briefing, professional course control & track marshalling
Four track riding sessions under lights (approx 20 minutes per session)
Graded coaching groups – based on skill & ability, catering to all Riders, all bikes, all levels 
Four classroom rider coaching sessions covering a multitude of motorcycle skills & fundamentals
4k Rider Video shadowing & review using the latest technology

Check out motoschool.com.au or go straight to the event info/ticketing link page HERE.

 

Kumho Tyre NSW Sports Sedans to contest championship at ARDC Super 70 race meeting.

This weekend at Sydney Motorsport Park the Kumho Tyre NSW Sports Sedans will contest Round 4 of their Championship as part of the ARDC Super 70 race meeting, together with the Precision National Sports Sedan Series.

This race meeting celebrates the 70th birthday of the Australian Racing Driver’s Club and as such they have a fantastic array of racing planned, including earlier era, Group N Historic Touring Cars, Group S Historic Sports Cars, Heritage Group C & A Cars, and the HQ Holdens. In addition to these will be Production Touring Cars, Superkarts and yours’ truly Sports Sedans. Whilst it’s racing by day, at night the party continues on Saturday night with Tuned International’s monster car show, figure 8 drifting and the Skyworx drone show. This is a race meeting not to be missed.

The grid for Sports Sedans is at full track capacity of 38 cars, thanks to the amalgamation of both our State Championship and those from the National Series into one enormous grid of the thundering, winged monsters on racing slicks, aiming to set a new tin top sedan lap record.

The State and Division 1 Championships have opened up following Round 3, with the then clear leader of the Championships, Birol Cetin being unable to compete following an incident in qualifying in his Camaro. Birol will be keen to make amends this weekend, as he takes on Steven Lacey in the “sister car” Camaro to regain the Championship lead. They will no doubt be kept honest by third place State competitor Theo Cambouris, in his Division 2 Commodore, who has been quietly amassing point due his consistency during the first three rounds in both the State and Divisional Championships. The Division 3 Championship is presently led by David Atkin in his V8 powered BMW. Across all Divisions there will be battles aplenty with 20 of the 38 cars on the grid fighting for State points.

The Duggan Family Hotels’ Aston Martin, usually driven by Mark Duggan, will this weekend be driven by Supercars ace Andre Heimgartner competing in the National Series, whilst Mark will drive the Jack Daniel’s 2010 VE Commodore PE 048, which he piloted at Bathurst earlier this year in the DFH Bathurst Combined Sedans.

The contest for the National Series, currently led by Jordan Caruso’s Audi A4 is bound to be hard fought, with Championship second place holder Steven Tamasi in his Holden Calibra only 19 points behind Caruso leading into this weekend. Third and fourth place in the National series is held by Shane Woodman & Michael Robinson, respectively in their V8 powered machines.

Photos

ARDC DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP CARDS

The ARDC is celebrating 70 years in 2022!

THANK YOU to all of our Members, Officials and Volunteers for the past 70 years. Here’s to quite a few more!

We wish to inform all current Members of a new 70th Anniversary digital member pass, which will be coming out to you in the next 24 hours.

The passes that are being updated and sent out over SMS via MyPass are the following:

  • Car and Bike Competitor
  • Car and Bike Enthusiast
  • Guest Passes (All valid Members).

Pass holders of Volunteer/Official cards, Enthusiast Plus Member cards, Honorary and Life Members, and Pit Crew will not need to install a new pass. You will see your pass update automatically in the next 24 hours.

If you have any issues, please contact our Membership team on reception@2025.ardc.com.au or +612 9672 1000, we are more than happy to help.

CLICK HERE for information on about using this pass at upcoming events! 

– The ARDC Membership Team